The biggest thing we can do to make an environmental impact with our eating habits is to eat more minimally processed, plant-based meal. That's because processing and production accounts for 83 percent of the greenhouse gasses emitted as a result of food. We can reduce this number by eating in-season (less refrigeration required) and seeking foods that use less water and energy (in other words, less meat and dairy) before they're ready to be consumed. Another 11 percent of our food's greenhouse gasses come from transportation. One way to decrease your food's footprint from both of these sources is to become a locovore and shop at one of the eleven Colorado Springs farmer's markets. These days, most food travels 1,500 miles before getting to our tables while the food at a farmer's market travels just 60 miles. (Note: Buyer beware... not all farmers market sell exclusively local goods. Ask questions or you may end up with produce off the same truck that just delivered to your local grocery store.) And, don't forget to shop organic -it's better for the environment because organic production reduces pollutants it our streams and soil.

Mondays: 

• Acacia Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or when items sell out).
• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay. 

Wednesdays:

• Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) - America the Beautiful Park, Cimino Drive south of Colorado Ave. from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. EBT accepted.
• Liberty Hights - 12105 Ambassador Dr. from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay. 

Thursdays:

• Memorial Park - Union and Pikes Peak from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• First and Main Town Center Mall - Powers Bvd. and Constitution Ave. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fridays:

• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay.

Saturdays:

• CFAM - The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EBT accepted.
• Doherty High School - 4515 Barnes Rd. from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Heritage - 1118 W Cheyenne Rd. from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Old Colorado City - 24th and West Colorado Ave. from 7 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay. 

Sundays:

• Chapel Hills Mall from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Check out the Colorado State Farmers Market listings for more information: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1178305859698

The biggest thing we can do to make an environmental impact with our eating habits is to eat more minimally processed, plant-based meal. That's because processing and production accounts for 83 percent of the greenhouse gasses emitted as a result of food. We can reduce this number by eating in-season (less refrigeration required) and seeking foods that use less water and energy (in other words, less meat and dairy) before they're ready to be consumed. Another 11 percent of our food's greenhouse gasses come from transportation. One way to decrease your food's footprint from both of these sources is to become a locovore and shop at one of the eleven Colorado Springs farmer's markets. These days, most food travels 1,500 miles before getting to our tables while the food at a farmer's market travels just 60 miles. (Note: Buyer beware... not all farmers market sell exclusively local goods. Ask questions or you may end up with produce off the same truck that just delivered to your local grocery store.) And, don't forget to shop organic -it's better for the environment because organic production reduces pollutants it our streams and soil.

Mondays: 

• Acacia Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (or when items sell out).
• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay. 

Wednesdays:

• Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) - America the Beautiful Park, Cimino Drive south of Colorado Ave. from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. EBT accepted.
• Liberty Hights - 12105 Ambassador Dr. from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay. 

Thursdays:

• Memorial Park - Union and Pikes Peak from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• First and Main Town Center Mall - Powers Bvd. and Constitution Ave. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fridays:

• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay.

Saturdays:

• CFAM - The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EBT accepted.
• Doherty High School - 4515 Barnes Rd. from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Heritage - 1118 W Cheyenne Rd. from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Old Colorado City - 24th and West Colorado Ave. from 7 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
• Harlan Wolfe Ranch - W. Cheyenne Road and Ninth Street from 9 a.m. to noon, Pick-n-pay. 

Sundays:

• Chapel Hills Mall from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Check out the Colorado State Farmers Market listings for more information: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1178305859698

The second STEERING COMMITTEE meeting of the

Future of Regional Transit study will be held:

Friday, September 10, 2010, 1 - 3 p.m.

Pikes Peak Regional Development Center

2880 International Circle, 2nd Floor, Hearing Rooms A/B

Colorado Springs
MAP

(this meeting venue is located along Mountain Metropolitan Transit Bus Route #7)

During the meeting, committee members will begin to discuss transit systems of other communities throughout the U.S., including key terms for understanding how public transit is operated and funded and how Mountain Metropolitan Transit compares to transit providers in peer cities on important measures of service, ridership, and cost. They will also begin a more detailed discussion about how transit in the Pikes Peak region could be improved.

Steering committee members include representatives from each of the municipalities and jurisdictions within the study area, other government agencies, community organizations and citizen groups. The committee will provide its recommendation, which will include a plan to implement the recommendation, to the City of Colorado Springs City Council in February 2011.

The What IF! Festival of Innovation and ImaginationSaturday, September 11, 2010 9 am - 6 pm / FREE for all agesDowntown Colorado Springs (Pikes Peak Center, Pioneer's Museum, Plaza of the Rockies and all surrounding grounds. Cascade Avenue will be closed from Colorado Avenue south to Vermijo for the Festival.) 

The What IF! Festival of Innovation and Imagination invites inquisitive community members of all ages to join the day of interaction and creativity. The day-long Festival will feature tech-enthusiasts, art-makers, garage inventors, Do-It-Yourself-ers, scientists, culinary magicians, original musicians, robot builders, urban farmers, innovators, engineers and many other thinkers and tinkerers from the region. The Festival will include over 100 interactive booths, demonstrations, video presentations, World Caf, dialogue sessions, live performances, a bicyclist pavilion and numerous hands-on experiences. 

The September 11 event will open with a community-wide sing of "America the Beautiful" at 9 am, led by historical lyricist Katharine Lee Bates and the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale at various locations on Festival grounds and in the city-at-large.